Psalms 22:13 Meaning: When Enemies Roar Like Lions
They open their mouths wide against me, lions tearing prey and roaring.
They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
They gape upon me with their mouth, Asa ravening and a roaring lion.
They have opened against me their mouth, A lion tearing and roaring.
They gape upon me with their mouth, [as] a ravening and a roaring lion.
Meaning in one sentence
Psalm 22:13 depicts enemies as roaring lions. Discover its meaning as David's lament and its prophetic connection to Christ's suffering.
Context
Psalm 22 is a cry from deep trouble. David writes as a man surrounded, with enemies closing in like wild animals. In the verses before this one he calls them bulls of Bashan, powerful and vicious. Now he compares them to a lion that roars as it tears its prey. The whole psalm moves from desperate complaint to confident praise. Christians have also read it as pointing to Jesus on the cross, because later verses describe pierced hands and feet and soldiers casting lots for clothing. The pain in this verse is raw, but it is spoken to God, not against Him.
Key Words
The Hebrew behind “opened their mouths wide” paints a picture of mouths stretched open, ready to swallow. It is the same word used in the psalm for mockers opening their lips in scorn. Here it is more violent: the enemy is a predator that has already caught its prey and is tearing it apart. The word “ravening” or “tearing” means to rip into pieces. This is not just a threat but an active, consuming attack. A lion roars after it has seized its kill, a sound of triumph and menace. Together these images show a sufferer who feels completely devoured, helpless and at the mercy of those who want to destroy him.
How Christians Read This Verse
Many Christian readers see two layers here. David himself faced literal enemies who wanted his life, and this verse describes their hunger for his destruction. At the same time the Church has long recognized this psalm as a prophecy of Christ. Matthew Henry writes that the details “were never true of David” and must apply to Jesus, who was surrounded by accusers as they cried for his crucifixion. Other traditions focus on David’s honest lament as a model for bringing our own pain before God. Both readings agree on one thing: the sufferer does not hide the horror of what he faces, and he brings it all to the Lord.
A common misunderstanding
Some think this verse is only a dramatic metaphor, David’s way of saying his enemies were a little aggressive. In fact the psalmist is describing a very real experience of being trapped and attacked by people who want to destroy him. The lion imagery appears elsewhere in Scripture for genuine danger, and the Church has connected this specific language to the physical and verbal assault Jesus endured. This verse gives words to real suffering, not just strong feelings.
Living This Out
You may know what it feels like to be surrounded. Maybe it is a group at work spreading rumors, a family member who keeps tearing you down, or a situation that leaves you feeling helpless like a lamb among wolves. This verse gives you permission to name that experience honestly. You do not have to pretend the threat is small. Bring the raw picture to God, just as the psalmist did. Let the cries and the silence both become prayer. And then keep reading the psalm, because it does not end with the lion’s roar.
Main takeaway: In your deepest suffering, you can cry out to God with raw honesty, because He hears and will not abandon you.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Sometimes you might feel like a lion is chasing you. That is when you can tell God how scary it feels. He listens to you.
For ages 9, 12
David describes his enemies like roaring lions that are ready to bite and tear. He does not pretend to be brave. He tells God exactly how afraid and hurt he is. When you feel cornered by people or problems, you can do the same. God is strong enough to handle your honest words, and He stays with you in the middle of the scary things.
Questions People Ask
Is Psalm 22:13 about Jesus?
Many Christians believe so. The Gospel accounts show Jesus surrounded by enemies who mocked and killed him, just like the psalm describes. The whole psalm contains details that match the crucifixion, such as pierced hands and casting lots for clothes. At the same time it is also a real lament from David in his own suffering. The two readings have always existed together in the Church.
What does 'they gaped upon me' mean?
It means they opened their mouths wide, either to mock him or to swallow him up like a wild animal. In Hebrew the picture is the same as a lion opening its mouth before it attacks. The psalmist feels completely exposed and about to be devoured.
Why does Psalm 22 use animal imagery?
The psalmist compares his enemies to fierce animals to show how dangerous and cruel they are. Bulls of Bashan, lions, and dogs each highlight a different threat: raw power, ravenous hunger, and vicious pack behavior. The images help the reader feel the helplessness of being hunted.
How does this verse relate to the crucifixion?
Jesus was surrounded by religious leaders, soldiers, and a crowd that shouted for his death. They treated him like prey. The language of enemies gaping their mouths and roaring like a lion fits the mockery and violence he endured. Early Christians saw Psalm 22 as a prophetic picture of his suffering.
How can I pray this verse when I feel attacked?
You can use the psalm as your own prayer. Tell God exactly how you feel: surrounded, threatened, weak. You do not need to clean up your words. The psalmist did not. Then keep reading to the end of the psalm, where God answers and the sufferer praises. Let the whole psalm shape your prayer.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study